Derrick structure



' Mar. 3. 1925; 1,528,015

- w. s. ESTES DERRICK STRUCTURE Filed April 5. 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnmntoz Z/aZkr Si 6326.5,

W. S. ESTES DERRICK STRUCTURE Mar. 3. 1925.

Filed. April 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; g

WALKER s. nsrEs, or TULSA, oxtaia onm.

DERRICK STRUCTURE.

- a pnc unn filed April 3,1923. Serial No. 629,689.

To allwkomz'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, WAD-KER S. Esrns, 'a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in Derrick Structures, of which the following is a full, clear, and

. exact description.

My inventionrelates to-improvements in derrlck structures, and one of the-advantages of the invention resldes 1n the provision of a vertically-movable top structure" or header, whereby reinforcing or doubler legs of greater'length than the legs of the derrick proper may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from-the derrick proper.

Another advantage of the invention resides in thecomplete elimination of bolts or rivets passing through the'derrick legs and the doubler or reinforcing legs, and in substituting therefor clamping means for connecting the derrick'legs and reinforcing le s. I Y

'lhe particular improvements to be specifically described hereinafter are adaptable to use in connection with any derrick structure which at times s employed for light Work, and at other times for heavy work;

but the invention isespecially designed for use 1n connectlon w th wells, such as 01], gas

-'.and artesianwells, and the construction will be articularly described herein as used in the oil and gas fields. v

In the operation of drilling a well it is necessary to employ a very strong and heavy derrick, but whenthedrilling is completed a relatively light derrick is sufficient for for the light work of pumping until the der-..

pumping purposes. The most usual practice has been to 'originally employ a heavy and expensive derrick for thedrilling operation, and to continue to use the same derrick rick is nolonger serviceable because of de- .terioration,. etc., whereupon it is replaced by an ordinary light pumpingderrick.

In other instances, where the wind hazard is too great, it has been the practice to remove the heavy derrick upon completion of the drilling operation, and erect a pumping derrick in its place.

It is" obvious that either ofthe practices outlined above involves a vast wasteof time, labor and money, and that great economies would be accomplished by some practical reinforcing means, so'that a light pumping derrick would be originally installed, and

ers, but the present invention .does relate broadly to means whereby the use of reinforcing legs is rendered practical in the ordinary field practice. Prior to the present invention it has been sug ested to use reinforcing legs extending the entire'dlstance from theheader to the base, and to secure these reinforcing legs to the derrick legs proper by means of bolts. The purpose, of

course, of such a structure is to divide the load between the derrick legs an'd'the reinforcing legs.

In order to emphasize the advantages of the present invention, it may be well to brief- 1y mention a few of the disadvantages of which could be reinforced to render it suffithe mere use of reinforcing legs or stifienthe reinforcing .structure outlined. above,

which disadvantages renderit entirely impracticaLfor ordinary field operations.

- If thereinforcing legs are to carry part of the load and the derrick legs are to carry part of. the load, it is-apparent that the reinforcing legs must be of exactly the same length as the derrick legs, and it is equally apparent that in actual operation the legs would very seldom, if ever, be of exactly the Even if the legs are of the same length, a slight distortion of the dersame length.

rick legs or the reinforcing legs will vary their effective length, thereby losing to a large extent the function of dividing the lOtd.. Further, if the reinforcing leg is' slightly longer than the derrick leg, itcannot be applied, because of the fixedheader. On'the other hand, if the rein-forcing leg is slightly shorter than the derrick leg it entirely loses its function of dividing the load-,-

and becomes nothing more than a mere stifi- .ener.

Ordmary reinforcing legs are built 1n sections, each section having at its upper end a socket which is'ada'pted to receive the lower end of the section above. It will be understood that to erect these reinforcing legs each section must be raised and dropped into its socket. When the top section is reached it cannot be applied without first dismantling the top structure of the derrick; and to remove the top reinforcing leg sections the derrick top structure must be again dismantled for it is impossible to lift thesections from their sockets on account of the fixed header.v c

For the purpose of securing the reinforcing legs to the derrick legs both legs were provided with holes adapted to recelve bolts passing through both legs. Such a structure is highly impracticable in ordinary use, for

it is apparent that for many reasons, such asthe slightest distortion of either leg, the. 'holes would not properly align, thereby. ren-' dering the securlng means inoperative.

entirely eliminates the above and other disadvantages; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

, Figure 1 is a side view of a light pumping derrick provided with a vertically movable top structure or header.-

Figure 2 is a'side view of the same derrick, but with the header in elevated position, and with the reinforcing legs or doublers, applied to the derrick. Figure 3 is a side view, on a somewhat larger scale, of the' upper portion of the" derrick, and doubler legs ready to be applied, and showing in broken lines the position of the header and doubler legs when the latter have been mounted in'place on the derrick.

Figure 4: is a fragmentary view more clearly showing the sliding connection between the header and the derrick structure.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view' taken through one of the derrick and rein forcing legs. This figure clearly shows how the outer legs abut against the ordinary bolts securing the sections of the inner legs, thereby entirely eliminating the use of spacers or fillers; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view representing any ordinary base structure for supporting the derrick andreinforcing legs.

Referring to the drawings more in detailnumeral '1 indicates the legs-of any ordinary light derrick, the legs being formed in sections, as usual, and connected in any desired and ordinary'manner. The means I will now describe the structure which I have shown for bracing the legs comprises diagonal braces'2, girts 3, and vertical braces 4. It is to be understoodthat the body lof the derrick structure may be of any desired type or construction, and, as the particular construction thereof forms nopart of the present invention, the foregoing brief description will be suflicient.

One of the radical changes in derrick construction included in the. subject-matter of the present invention isv the manner of mounting the header or top structure of the derrick. In prior derrick constructions the I headeris fixed to the derrick body so that it is immovable with. respect to the body withoutdismantling the header. In the present construction, however,. the header is mounted for vertical sliding movement with respect to the derrick body.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the specific means illustrated for accomplish ing the sliding connection between the header and derrick body; but, on the contrary, the invention relates broadly to a header movable with respect to the derrick vided with one or more slots 7, three of the slotsbeingillustrated in the drawings. Nu-' 'meral 8 indicates any" ordinary gusset plate to which the diagonal braces 2 are attached,

and the lower portion of the gusset plate being riveted to-the upperend of the leg sections in the'usual manner. The upper or-' tions of the gusset plates are not fixe to the'relati-vely short leg sections 6, but have a sliding :connection therewith. This sliding connection is accomplished by provid ing the upper portion of the gusset plates with one or more pins which pass through .the slots-7 provided for that purpose, and

are secured in the gusset plates. The pins may be in theform of bolts or rivets, and are indicated by numeral 9. It is thus apparent that the header, or top structure of the derrick, is free to be-moved vertically to the'extent of-the length of the slots 7, and, of course, the slotsmay be of any de sired length.

Aspreviously stated herein, the'specific means for slidably mounting the header is for purposes of illustration only, for it is readily apparent that numerous other means may be devised for accomplishingthe same purpose. For instance, the derrick legs may be slidably connected directly tothe header may be fixed-to the relatively short leg secstructure, thereby eliminating the relatively .short leg sections; or,-instead of providing the short leg sections withj'slots, it may be preferred to provide the. slots in the gusset, plates and have the engaging pins carried.

by the short leg sections; or the gussetplates would be free tobe raised or lowered whenever deslred. These few modifications are mentioned merely to show that the specific structuremay be varied in 'a great many ways, and to-emphasize the fact that the present invention contemplates any manner of sli'dably mounting the headeror top struc ture relative to the derrick proper;

The reinforcing legs, or doublers, are indicated by numeral 10, and'it is to benoted that these legs are slightly longer than the derrick legs. The sectionsforming the reinforcing legs are united in any desired manner, and I have, therefore, merely illustrated generally herein an old and well known form of socket connection. The sockets are formed by riveting an angle bar (not shown) on the interior of the leg section adjacent the top thereof, so that it will extend above the top'of the section, and on the exterior ofthe leg section are riveted straps 11, also extending above the topof the section, and

thereby forming asocket to receive the lower end of the section next above.

Bolts are then employed to secure the lower end of the upper section to the socket members.

i The sections are thus arranged in an'endto-endabutting relation, so that the load is carried directly by the leg sections, and the bolts and rivets are not subjected to unnecessary stresses. The end-to-end abutting relation of the leg sections is also old and .well known in the prior art. and. 'per se constitutes nopart of the present invention. In so far as the present invention is concerned, the reinforcing leg sections may be formed and united in any manner desired.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows:

' When drilling operations are to commence the light pumping derrick with movable header is installed. This derrick is not strong enough for the heavy work of drilling, and consequently the reinforcing legs, or'doublers, are applied before starting the drilling operation. As previously stated herein, and as clearly illustrated in the drawings, the reinforcing legs areslightly longer than the derrick legs; therefore, to mount the doublers in place it is only necessary to raise the header to the dotted line position in Figure 3, apply the doubler sections, and

properly aligning,-

thenlower the header so that it rests on the doublers. When the doublers have been applied, the lower ends of the relatively short leg sections of the derrick are no longer in abutting relation with the upper ends of the next lower sections, andthus'it is obvious that the derrick legs carry no part of v the load; the entire load being carrie'd solel b'y'the reinforcing legs.

It is also apparent that the successful op eration of this apparatus is in no way dependent upon the exactlength of the derrick legs. or reinforcing-legs; for itis im-' material whether the difference in length between the two legs'isvery slight or consid-l era-ble, for, the header being mov'able, it is.

only necessary to raisethe header sufficiently to take care of the difference in length;

It is also apparent that under no circumstances is it possible for the reinforcing legs or doublers to become mere stiifeners, for the reinforcing legs are longer than the derrick legs; and obviouslythis precludes any conditions that would take from the-doublers their intended function and reduce them to mere stifi'eners.

When the drilling operation has been completed the doublers are salvaged, and the original light pumping derrick is left in place for the pumping operation It is to be noted here that no difliculty will be en} countered in salvaging thedoublers, for it" is only necessary to raise the header and remove thesections forming the doublers.

-When the doublers have been removed from the derrick they are ready for use in any .other drilling operation; and, of course, they are also available for further use on the same'derrick when it is again to be employed for heavy work, such as pulling casing.

I will now describe the means for securing the reinforcing legs tothe derrick legs. As stated hereinbefore. it has been suggested, prior to the present invention, to secure reinforcing legs to the derrick legs by means of bolts.- It has also been indicated hereinbefore that such a construction is highly impracticable for various reasons, but particularly so because of the fact that the slightest distortion of either the derrick leg or reinforcing legwill prevent the bolt holes from and thereby render the securing means inoperative. In the present construction I have entirelyeliminate'd the,

of such securing means I have substituted aclamping device, and I have also entirely eliminated the use of spacers or fillers. By

referring now; to Figure5, it will be apparent thatI do not employ any spacers or fillers between the derrick legs 1 and the rein forcing legs 10, but that, on the contrary, I

the reinforcing legs abut'directly against- -the bolts which are used for the purpose of tion herein described, it will be understood that ordinary spacers or fillers may be employed, if desired. :At suitable intervals along their lengths the reinforcing legs and derrick legs are clamped together by means of bent bolts 13, the ends of which pass through apertures in a suitable'plate or bar 14, the various parts being securely'clamped' together b settlng up on the nuts'15 engaging the t readed ends of the bent bolts.

Such a construction presents a ready and practical means for tying the doublers to the derrick legs 'and entirely. eliminates the disadvantages that are apparent in a construction in which the legs are intended to be secured together by means of bolts.

The' base support and anchoring means constitute no particular part of the present invention, and in Figure 6 I have, therefore, merelydndicated a conventional form of mounting, cdmprlslng a concrete pedestal 16,

to. which is anchored the ordinary base plate 7 17 and angles 18 being employed for the purpose of riveting the derrick legs to the base plates. It will be understood that the invention is by no means limited to anyparit has been moved.

been" moved.

ticular base or'anchoring' means, and any preferred form thereof may be employed.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have'described what I now believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, but I do not wish to be understood thereby as limiting' myself or the scope of the invention, as many changeszand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; all such I aim to include in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is; I

'1. In a derrick, a body structure, and .a top structure, said top structure being movable with respect to the'body structure, and

supporting the top structure after it has 2. In a derrick, a body structure, and a top structure,said top structure being vertically'movable with respect to the body structure, and means other than the body structure for supporting thetop structure'after 3. In a derrick, a top structure, and a sliding connection betweenthe top structure and body structure, whereby the top structure may be moved,

and means other than the body strufcture'for supporting the top. structure after has Ida derrick, a body structure, and a body structure, and a header, said header bein movably mounted A on the body structure, an means other than the body structure for supporting the header after'it has been moved.

5. In a derrick, a body structure, and a header, said header being mounted for vertical movement on the body structure, and

means other than the body structure for supporting the header after it has been moved.

6. In a derrick, a body structure, and a header, and a slidin connection between the body structure and header, whereby-the header may be moved, and means other than the body structure for supporting the header after it has been moved.

7. A derrick comprising a' plurality of .legs, a top structure carried by the legs, and

a pin and slot connection between said legs and the top structure whereby the top structure may be moved, and means other'than the derrick legs for supporting the top struclegs being movable with respect to the'derrick 'legs,'and means other than the" derrick legs for supporting the header after it has been moved, v

9. A derrick comprising 'a plurality/of legs, aheader, a plurality of legs carried'by the header and co-operating with the derrick legs to support the header, said header and legs being mounted forfree vertical movement with respect to the derrick legs, andmeans other than the derrick legs for supporting the header after it has been moved. r

10. A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a header, a plurality oflegs carried by the header and co-operating with the derricklegs to support the header, and a sliding connection between the derrick legs and thelegs carried by the header, whereby the legs, a header, a plurality of legs carried by the header and co-operating with the derrick legs to support'the header, and a pin 11. A derrick comprising a plurality of and slot connection between the derrick legs and the legs carried by the header, whereby the header may bemoved, and means other than the derrick legs for supporting the header after it has been moved.

12.. A derrick comprising a set of legs, a

header, a set of legs carried by the header" and co-operating with the derrick legs to support the header,- gusset plates fixed to'one of said sets of legs, said gusset plates having a sliding connection with the other of said sets of legs, whereby the header may be moved, and means other" than the derrick legs for supporting the header after it has i the header and co-operating" with the derriok'legs to support the header, gusset plates fixed to the. derricklegs, said gusset plates having a sliding connection with the legs carried by the header, whereby the header may be moved, and means other than the derrick legs for supporting the header after it has been moved.

14. A derrick comprising a body structure and a top structure, and means for supporting the top structure independently'of.

the body structure.

15. A derrick comprising a body structure and a top structure, and means otherthan the. bodv structure for carrying the entire .load of the top structure.

'16. A derrick comprising a body structure and a top structure,'and means removably connected to the body structure for carryingthe entire load of the top structure.

17. A derrick, including a. body structure and a header, said header being'no'rmal- 1y supported by the body structure, and means for supporting said header independently of the body structure.

, 18. A derrick, including a body struc-' ture and a top structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, and vreinforcing legs for supporting the top structure.

19. A derrick comprising a of legs, a top structure mounted for free vertical'movement on the derrick legs, and reinforcing legs for supporting the I top structure, said reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs.

20. A derrick comprising a body structure and a top structure, said top structure being mounted for vertical movementon the body structure, reinforcing legs for supporting the top structure in an. elevated position, and the body structure support ing the top structure in its lowered position.

21. A derrick comprising a body structure, a headermovably mounted on the body structure, and reinforcing le s adapted to engage the header, said reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs.

22. A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a header slidably'mountedon the legs, reinforcing legs engaging the header, said. reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs and carrying the entire load of the header.

23. A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a header slidably mounted onthe legs, reinforcing legs removably attached to the derrick legs, said reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs and engaging the header, whereby they carry plurality the entireload of the header.

24. A derrick structure comprising a plurality of legs, a header. mounted for vertical movement -on said legs, reinforcing legs clamped to the derrick legs, sai d reinforcing legs adapted to engage the header.

25. A derrick structure comprising a plurality of legs, a header mounted for vertical movement on said legs, reinforcing legs clamped to the derrick legs, said reinforcing legs adapted to engage the header'and being .of greater. length than thederrick legs.

26. A derrick structure comprising a plurality of legs, a header movably mounted with respect to said legs, reinforcing legs adapted to be rcinovably secured to the derrick .legs,"the sole means for securing the reinforcing legs and derrick legs compris ing a plurality of clamps.

r 27. A derrick structure comprising a plurality of legs,-a headermovably mounted with respect to said legs, reinforcing legs adapted to be removably secured to the' derrick legs,

the sole means for securing the reinforcing legs andderrick legs, comprising a. pin-- ralit'y of clamps, said clamps includingbent bolts embracing the reinforcing legs,-and

plates, said bent bolts being adjustably connected to the plates. 28. A derrick structure comprising a plurality. oflegs, a header movably mounted with respect to said legs, reinforcing legs adapted to be removably secured to the derrick legs, said reinforcing legs adapted to abut agamst the bolts connecting the sections of the derrick legs, the sole means for. I

"securingthe reinforcing legs and derrick legs comprising a plurality of clamps, said clamps including. bent bolt-s embracing the reinforcing legs, being adjustably connected to the plates.

and plates, said bent bolts 29. A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a top structure carried by the legs, a pin and slot connection between said legs and the top structure, reinforcing legs engaging the vtop structure and removably connected to the derrick, legs, said reinforcing legs being slightly longer than the-derrick legs.

1 30. A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a header, a plurality of legs; carried by the header and normally -co-operating with the derrick legs to support the header,

reinforcing legs of greater length than the derrick legs and removably connectedthereto, said reinforcing legs adapted to engage the header and to maintain the legs thereof out ofc'ontact with the derrick legs.

31; A derrick comprising a plurality of legs, a header, a plurality of legs carried by the header and normally co-operating'with the derrick legs to support the header, 2. pin and slot connection between the derrick legs and the legs carried by the header, reinforcing legs adapted to engage said header and to be removably connected to the derrick legs, said reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs. 32. A derri k comprising a plurality, of

legs, a header, a plurality of legs carried 5 by the header and normally eo-operating with the derrick legs to support the header, gusset plates fixed to one set of legs, said gus set plates having a sliding connection with the other of said sets of legs, reinforcing legs adapted to engage the header and to be removably connected to the derrick legs,

said reinforcing legs being of greater length than the derrick legs.

WALKER S. ESTES. 

